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Global Day of Action Against Open-Pit Mining

By Rebeca Zuniga-Hamlin

On Saturday, July 22, Global Day of Action Against Open-Pit Mining, citizens around the world took action to raise awareness of the devastating social and environmental impacts posed by open pit mining. In Denver, the Denver Justice and Peace Committee (DJPC) together with 350 Colorado, Climate Courage Education and Organization and Food and Water Watch Education and Organizationstood in opposition to open-pit mining by taking action on the west steps of the State Capitol Building.

We will continue to stand in solidarity with the people around the world living near open-pit mines who suffer air and water pollution, and whose very lives are threatened by the criminalization of dissent.

For several years, the DJPC has called for an end to the construction and expansion of open-pit mining by Newmont Mining in Peru. With headquarters in Denver, Colorado, Newmont Mining has operated the Yanacocha Mine in Cajamarca, Peru, for the past two decades. Yanacocha is the second largest gold mine in the world and the largest mine in South America. Through its operations, the company has contaminated the region’s waters and annihilated lakes creating an environment in which local residents have endured high rates of cancer and other health problems, crop damage, and animal deaths.